Councillors at Nottingham City Council’s Executive Board have agreed to adopt a corporate Environmental Policy to shape how they protect and enhance the local and global environment through their own activities.

The policy sets out the council’s commitments over 7 broad environmental themes which link with their current strategies and objectives, and the targets set out in the Local Area Agreement. It is also the first stage in the implementation of a council wide environmental management system.

The main themes and current projects which the policy will build on include:

• Environmental Management: Introduction of the policy is the first step to introducing an authority wide environmental management system by 2011

• Environmental Awareness: Responsible Schools Programme run by Children Services, which delivers the governments Sustainable Schools national framework,  Nottingham Carbon Club, engagement with Nottingham’s businesses, New sustainable community strategy & 2030 vision from January 2009

• Energy, Natural Resources & Climate Change: Carbon Management Programme, in partnership with the Carbon Trust. Draft Plan launched on the 1st December, which is a programme to deliver further energy and carbon reductions. Draft initial aim is 30% by 2012, Reduce Nottingham’s CO2 per capta emissions by 12.6% by 2011, Achieve level 3 plans for adaptation to climate change by 2011

• Waste Management: Make Nottingham England’s cleanest big city by increasing household waste recycling to 40%, reduce street litter from 7 to 2% and halve the number of fly tipping incidents. Deliver long term Waste Management Strategy

• Transport & the Build Environment: NET expansion,  Building Schools for the Future programme (PFI) 70% on site renewable energy requirement, Improve design quality & sustainability of new developments

• Biodiversity: Improve all parks to “green flag” status

• Procurement & Purchasing: Procurement Strategy refreshed & to be launched end of 2008, with commitments to Sustainable Procurement

Cllr Katrina Bull, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change at Nottingham City Council, said: “An Environmental Policy is vital in encompassing all of our commitments for the environment. It will set out clear objectives for our services and staff to follow to ensure environmental efficiency across the council. It will build on the effective environmental improvements which have already been made and will provide a co-ordinated approach to environmental management for the future.”

The Environmental Policy builds on the good past and present work the City Council has achieved over the past few years. In January 2007 the City Council was named as one of the top ten councils in the UK for tackling climate change by the Guardian newspaper. The success of the Nottingham Declaration and the energy efficient transport policies have increased the City Council’s profile and it is seen as one of a small number of leading authorities on climate change. The introduction of the Nottingham Carbon Club has also helped to cut emissions of CO2 and energy use across the city by raising environmental standards across Greater Nottingham’s largest employers.